Air-slot spacer clip

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment, a construction clip for rigidly interconnecting and uniformly spacing a pair of ceiling inverted-tee support members defining an air conditioning air-slot through the ceiling is provided. Further, the clip provides support for the air conditioning ducts which carry air from the main air conditioning ducts to the air-slot. The clip, which is preferably formed of a high grade spring steel, includes an elongated body member having at each extremity a pair of legs extending normally upward from the body member and into a generally U-shaped configuration for securely gripping the vertical portion of the inverted-tee support members. The extremities of each leg are inwardly bent to form clasping hook ends for tightly gripping the tee member vertical portion in a sliding relation. Each pair of legs defines a slot therebetween which extends from the body member to the extremities of the legs to enable the clip to be positioned over intersecting tee members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interconnected ceiling structure for a building having an air-slot therein for the introduction therethrough of conditioned air, comprising: a plurality of spaced, inverted-tee support members, each having a flange portion and a vertical portion and supported in said building,   a plurality of ceiling tiles adapted for supporting placement between said inverted-tee support members for forming a building ceiling,   at leat one inverted-tee support member having a flange positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from a preselected one of said plurality of spaced apart inverted-tee support members supported in said building for defining an air-slot therebetween in said ceiling for the introduction therethrough of conditioned air,   an air conditioning troffer defining a discharge port corresponding in size and shape to said air-slot defined in said ceiling, and   a plurality of spacing clips attachable at each extremity to the vertical portion of one of said preselected spaced inverted-tee support members for rigidly maintaining said spaced apart relation therebetween and for receiving and supporting said discharge port of said air conditioning troffer in fixed relation to said ceiling, each spacing clip comprising   a central body member, a pair of leg members depending from opposing ends of said body member,   each of said leg members defining a slot sized to receive an intersecting inverted-tee support member therein and being a generally inverted U-shape for engaging said vertical portion of an adjacent inverted-tee support member and positioning said body member in abutting engagement with said flanges of said tee support members, and   means located on said leg members for securely gripping said vertical portion of said inverted-tee support members.   
     
     
       2. The structure described in claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprise an inwardly bent clasping hook end formed in each said leg and adjacent the free extremity thereof. 
     
     
       3. The structure described in claim 2 and further including forming said plurality of spacing clips of spring steel. 
     
     
       4. In an interconnected suspended ceiling structure for buildings, including a plurality of spaced inverted-tee support members suspended in said building for supporting ceiling tiles therebetween to form a ceiling, and at least one additional inverted-tee support member positioned in parallel spaced relation to a preselected one of said plurality of spaced inverted-tee members to define an air-slot dimensioned to receive the discharge end of an air conditioning troffer, an improved spacer and support clip in combination with said preselected tee member, said additional tee member and said troffer, said improved clip comprising: a generally U-shaped member having a central body portion,   a pair of leg members depending from opposing ends of said body member,   each of said leg members defining a slot sized to receive an intersecting inverted-tee support member therein and being a generally inverted U-shape for engaging said vertical portion of an adjacent inverted-tee support member and positioning said body member in abutting engagement with said flanges of said tee support members, and   means located on said legs for securely gripping the vertical portion of said tee members.   
     
     
       5. The structure described in claim 4 wherein said gripping means comprise an inwardly bent clasping hook end formed in each said leg and adjacent the free extremity thereof. 
     
     
       6. The structure described in claim 5 and further including forming said generally U-shaped member of spring steel.